What are the preparation and precautions for bulk loading of cargo?
Bulk loading preparation:
Holds and tween decks thoroughly cleaned for cargo to be loaded
All dunnage removed from cargo spaces or stowed one end and covered. Remove spar ceiling if cargo necessities removal i.e. coal
Clean bilges or bilge wells, paying particular attention to strum boxes and test suctions, sweeten, tween deck scuppers should be covered with burlap and cement over
Cement chocks at top of bilges examined for good condition and repaired, as required.
Limber boards and bilges well should be covered with separation cloths or old tarpaulins to prevent sewage into bilges or well.
All hatch beams in position
Rig shifting boards, if required
Test fire smothering system
Blank off bottom ventilator grills
Hold hatch survey.
Bulk loading precautions:
The general fore and aft distribution by weight should not appreciably differ from that found satisfactory for general cargoes
The maximum number of tonnes of cargo loaded in any lower hold should not exceed that specified in the code. This amount varies directly with the ship’s maximum moulded breath
If cargo is untrimmed or is only partially trimmed the height of the cargo above the tanktop must not exceed a certain amount, which is specified in the code and which varies directly as the stowage factor of the cargo and the summer load draft.
Precautions should be taken to minimise the extent to which dust may come into contact with the moving parts of deck machinery
Ventilator system should be shutdown or screened during loading or discharge
Bilges or hold wells should be sounded after the completion of loading
Special care is necessary when loading high density cargoes which are normally loaded at a fast rate.
Cargo space fitting need to be protected against damage. Soundings must be taken regularly to keep bilges dry and monitor cargo liquidation.
Initial loading to be slow and if practicable dropped near the tank top and not releases from heights.